Archive | Diabetes Information

According to researchers in Denmark, drinking alcohol – three to four days per week, can reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Researchers in Denmark examined alcohol consumption patterns and found that people who drink moderately on three to four days per week are less likely to develop diabetes compared with abstainers. Wine is particularly beneficial because it is rich in compounds that help maintain blood sugar balance. The findings were published in the journal Diabetologia and the study was conducted by researchers from the University of Southern Denmark.

Diabetes arises when the body’s ability to use or make insulin is impaired. If this chronic disease is not controlled, it can result in hyperglycemia and this can cause serious damage to various organs in the body especially the eyes, heart, kidneys, nerves and blood vessels. The proportion of people living with diabetes worldwide has risen from 4.7% in 1980 to .5% in 2014.

In 2015, 1.6 million deaths were directly attributed to diabetes and high blood sugar was responsible for another 2.2 million deaths.

So Can Alcohol Lower Diabetes Risk?

Studies that have explored the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of developing diabetes have established that moderate to light consumption is linked to lower risk compared to abstaining. However, most of these studies have only examined the volume of consumption without looking at how the volume of consumption is spread over time.

The Danish researches also noted that although other studies explored drinking patterns such as number of drinking days each week and the effects of various types of alcoholic, their findings were inconclusive. Therefore, they decided to examine the link between alcohol consumption patterns and the risk of developing diabetes in the Danish population. The researchers analyzed responses from a total of 70,551 participants (41,847 women and 28,704 men) without diabetes. All the participants had answered questions about health and lifestyle and provided detailed reports abouts their alcohol drinking habits.

The participants were keenly followed until 2012 (for an average of 4.9 years) during which the researchers found out from the national diabetes register that 87 women and 859 men had developed diabetes.

Yes – The Types of alcoholic Drink Matters!

From the information, the researchers also determined drinking patterns, average weekly intake, consumption of different beverages and binge drinking. The team asked participants about their consumption patterns of specific types of beverages and their frequency of consuming alcohol.

Therefore, the researchers were able to classify participants into categories:

current and lifetime abstainers;

people who drank on 5 to 7 days each week;

on 3 to 4 days per week;

on 1 to 2 days each week;

and on less than 1 day each week.

A standard alcoholic drink in Denmark contains 12 grams of pure alcohol. This is less than the standard drink in the U.S which is 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of ethanol. The team also assessed binge drinking (drinking 5 or more drinks in one session). Binge drinking was classified into 3 categories:

more than one day per week,

less than 1 day per week,

and never.

The team also categorized drinking patterns for 3 types of alcoholic drinks: spirits, beer and wine. These drinks were assessed as: 7 or more drinks per week; between 1 and 6 drinks per week; and less than 1 drink each week. However, for men this category was further divided into: 7 to 13 drinks per week, and 14 or more alcoholic drinks each week.

When analyzing the data to determine the link with diabetes, the team adjusted the information to make allowance for the effect of other aspects that might influence it. Some of these factors include:

sex,

age,

smoking,

education level,

BMI (Body Mass Index),

blood pressure (previous or current),

leisure activities,

family history of diabetes,

and type of diet (such as fiber levels, fish, vegetables and fruit).

The study showed that participants who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol in terms of average consumption per week had the lowest diabetes risk.

Women who drank 9 drinks per week had a 58% lower risk of developing diabetes, and men who consumed an average of 14 alcoholic drinks each week had 43% lower diabetes risk compared with abstainers.

After analyzing drinking patterns, the researchers also found that participants who drank alcohol on three to four days each week had the lowest risk of diabetes. For women, the risk of developing diabetes was 32% lower and for men it was 27% lower compared with participants who only consumed alcohol on less than one day per week.

However, analysis of binge drinking data did not show any clear link to the risk of developing diabetes. The Danish researchers say that this might be due to the low number of participants who actually reported binge drinking. This made it difficult for the team to produce meaningful statistical result.

So – Which Alcoholic Drink is Best for Diabetes?

WINE

When it comes to the type of alcoholic drink, just as previous studies have found out, the team also discovered that high to moderate wine consumption is linked to a significantly lower diabetes risk.

They attributed this to the fact that red wine contains polyphenols, which help control blood sugar.

Compared with consuming less than one each week, drinking at least 7 drinks of wine per week is linked to a 25% to 30% lower risk of diabetes.

BEER

On the other hand, in terms of drinking beer, the study showed that men who drink between 1 and 6 per week had a 21% lower riskof diabetes, compared with men who drink less than one drink per week. However, for women, the study showed no ties to the risk of diabetes.

SPIRITS

In terms of spirit consumption, the team established that there’s no significant tie between the amount of spirits men drank and the risk of developing diabetes. The study also found that women who consume 7 or more drinks of spirits each week had an 83% higher risk of diabetes compared with those who had less than one drink each week.

These finding suggest that the frequency of drinking alcohol is linked with the risk of developing diabetes. Moreover, consuming alcohol over 3 to 4 days is linked with the lowest diabetes risk.

Turn your Smart Phone into a Smart Blood Glucose Meter!

The Dario Smart Blood Glucose Monitoring System integrates with your smartphone directly allowing you to monitor and track your blood glucose and other important elements, on your phone. This all-in-one system from LabStyle Innovations was launched internationally in 2013 and has been under review by the FDA since then. Dario was given the go ahead by the FDA in December 2015 and it hit the U.S market in mid May 2016.This system is a sleek plastic device that’s about the size of the normal cigarette lighter with a cartridge of 25 strips housed on top and a lancet built into the bottom.

Technical specifications

Blood sample size: Minimum of 0.3 microlitres

Time to process and display results: 6 seconds

Memory: Limited to phone/device memory

Batteries: not required

Averages: 7, 14, or 30 days

Hematocrit range: 20 to 60%

Measurement range 0.6 to 33.3 mmol/L

Weight: 40 grams

Operating temperature: 50° to 113°F (10° to 45°C)

Storage temperature: 36° to 90°F (2° to 32°C)

Altitude: up to 3,400 meters

Dimensions: 104 x 21 x 11mm.

Explore the Features of the Dario Blood Glucose Monitoring System

All-in-one Glucose Monitoring System

Dario Blood Glucose Monitoring System

There are two main things that make the Dario Blood Glucose Monitoring System stand out from other systems. The first reason is that it turns your smart phone into the glucose meter. The second is that the test strip and lancet holder are combined into one, convenient, easy to use and well-designed device. It is ideal for keeping things discrete because nobody would actually guess that it’s actually a glucose meter.

The lancet/needle

The lancet that is housed on one end of the all-in-one device can be accessed by simply snapping off the orange piece. You can also set the needle’s depth, and then pull down the back piece in order to load the needle before pressing the button (orange button) to release it.

Test strips

Test strips are stored on the opposite end of the device. Therefore, there’s no need to carry around several pieces. Moreover, the cartridge that contains 25 test strips simply snaps into place and you just need to remove the white piece you’ll find at the end. The device comes with two test strip cartridges and each cartridge contains 25 test strips.

Meter attachment

The Dario Smart Blood Glucose Monitoring System turns your smartphone into a blood glucose testing meter by simply plugging in a very small attachment into the phone’s headphone jack. The meter attachment is also conveniently stored in the compact all-in-one device.

The meter

The packing clearly explains how users can download the app and set it up on their phones. You can test your blood sugar by simply plugging in the attachment and opening the app. The device will prompt you to carefully insert a new testing strip before placing a drop of blood on the strip. The meter will count down by first filling in a circle before it displays the glucose level. The device uses a color coding system to show if the glucose level is within range, high or within the borderline. It will then take you to a new screen where you’re required to indicate whether it’s a bedtime, pre-meal or post-meal reading and then enter additional information related to physical activity, insulin, carbs and even tags.

App-Tracking and Analytics

The Dario app is easy to use and very intuitive. It logs important data and then displays it in a clear and meaningful way to the end user. You can also set up your own personal profile which mainly includes the type of bolus/basal medication you use, your blood glucose thresholds and hyper/hypo warnings. Moreover, you can set reminders, track food, and sync fitness apps.

Logbook and Charts

The app is designed to automatically store all readings in the logbook. You can also choose if you want to view it as a chart, timeline, or list. The chart graphs up the last 14 days and you can share your logbook as a CSV or PDF file with your phone contacts or even by entering an email address.

On-Demand Sharing

The app also lets you chart more including carbohydrate intake, calories and insulin doses and the results can be shared with anyone such as your doctor or family. Moreover, the statistics tab generally gives you a summary for a day, or the last week (7 days), month (30 days), or 90 days. This summary tells you the number of readings you had, the highest or lowest reading and then breaks the data down by how many readings were in range, average or below and then by how many hypers or hypos you had based on your custom settings. You can also click the summary box to see all the readings that fall into that specific category.

Emergency Hypo Alerts

This is an additional safety feature that once enabled on your device; Dario sends a text message to 4 people with your current blood glucose level and a link to where you are using your device’s GPS coordinates. This feature is ideal for people who have or had hypo problems in the past because they can go anywhere at any time with peace of mind.

What are the Benefits of Dairo Smart Blood Glucose Monitoring System?

This is one of the latest blood testing meters and everything in the system fits perfectly together. Therefore, instead of carrying around your pouch with separate pieces (lancing device, test strips, meters, etc), all you really need is one compact device and your phone

The device is great when it comes to logging everything making your data super convenient to share.

You don’t have to worry about charging your meter because the device will work as long as your phone does not run out of charge.

The Dario Smart Meter is very small and compact. The case dimensions are 104mm x 21mm x 11mm. This includes the lancing device, test strips and the meter itself.

The device is compatible with both android (OS 4.12 or higher) and iOS devices (OS 6.1 or higher)

Drawbacks

The device does not sync with other diabetic devices.

Is the The Dario Smart Blood Glucose Monitoring System for me?

If you’re looking for a system that is compact and allows users to log readings directly to their phones, this device is a great option!

Exenatide is an injectable type 2 diabetes medication that is used along with exercise and diet in order to control the blood glucose level. It stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin efficiently when your blood glucose level is high. Exenatide also causes a significant decrease in appetite by slowing the emptying of your stomach. However, Exenatide should not be used to treat type 1 diabetes.

Using medication and making lifestyle changes such as exercising, dieting and quitting smoking will help you improve your health and manage your diabetes. This will also decrease the chances of having a stroke, heart attack and other diabetes related complications including nerve damage, kidney failure, gum disease, and eye problems. Your health care providers will advise you on the best way you can manage your diabetes.

When to Avoid Exenatide for Diabetes.

You should not use Exenatide if you are on dialysis or if you have severe kidney disease, diabetic ketoacidosis or if you have slowed digestion.

Exenetide should not be used together with Bydureon and short-acting or fast-acting insulin.

Is Exenatide Safe? You should tell your health care provider if you have:

High triglycerides

A history of kidney transplant or kidney disease

A history of gall stones or pancreatitis

Digestion problems

A history of alcoholism

Birth control pills should be taken at least 1 hour before taking this medication. You should also tell your doctors if you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant or become pregnant while using Exenatide.

Exenetide is not approved for use by people younger than 18 years.

How should I use Exenetide?

Exenatide immediate release, which is also known as Byetta, comes as a liquid (solution) in a prefilled injection pen for injecting subcutaneously.

Exenatide extended release (Bydureon) (long-acting) comes in powder form which is mixed with liquid in a prefilled injection pen or a vial to inject subcutaneously.

Exenatide immediate release (Byetta) should be injected twice per day within one hour before breakfast and dinner. It should not be injected before meals and your doses should be at least six hours apart. The doctor might start you on a low dosage and may switch you to a higher dosage of Exenatide if your blood glucose control does not improve after using the initial dosage for one month. The doctor might also adjust the dosage to make sure you have the best results.

Exenatide extended release solution should be injected once per week, on the same day each week without regard to meals. Use Exenatide exactly as instructed by your doctor.

Diabetics who use Exenatide immediate release need to purchase needles separately. Your doctor will tell you the needles you should use to inject the medication. Always look at your medication before injecting it. Exenatide should be as fluid, colorless and clear as water. Do not use Exenatide in smaller or larger amounts or for longer than prescribed. Exenatide is injected under the skin and your doctor or pharmacist should show you how injections are used and how used syringes and needles should be disposed. Exenatide (Byetta) comes in a prefilled dosing pen with a user manual showing detailed instructions for using the injection pen.

Never share a cartridge, syringe or injection pen with anyone else since this can allow diseases or infections to pass from one person to the other.

Exenatide Dosage Information:

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you’ve not yet eaten a meal, take the missed dose immediately. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, or if you’ve already eaten, skip the dose you’ve missed.

Kidney problems: Difficult or painful urination, little or no urination, swelling in your ankles or feet, short of breath or feeling tired.

Pancreatitis: Severe nausea and vomiting, severe pain in the upper stomach spreading to the back, or fast heart rate.

Feeling jittery and weak

Constipation, diarrhea, heart burn.

Seek emergency medical help if you notice any signs of allergic reaction to Exenatide; rapid heartbeats, hives, difficult breathing, feeling light headed, itching, and swelling of the face, throat, tongue or lips.

What drugs that can affect Exenatide?

Your doctor might recommend that you stop using:

Birth control pills

Antibiotics

Blood pressure medication

Pain medication

Oral diabetes medicine or insulin

Warfarin (Jantoven, Coumadin)

Exenatide might make it difficult for the body to absorb oral medication. Therefore, it is vital to tell your physician about all the medication you are taking including herbal products for Diabetes, vitamins and over-the-counter medicines.

Best Lotions for Diabetic Feet

Diabetes can cause deprivation of oxygen to your skin, leading to poor circulation that might lead to severe, chronic dryness, slow healing, redness, cracking and itching. This basically means that diabetics can get injured more easily and are more likely to get infections that take longer to heal. Here are some of the best lotions for diabetic feet that can help alleviate these diabetes complications:

Neoteric Advanced Healing Cream

Neoteric advanced healing cream provides treatment for cracked, damaged and chronic dry skin. One of its main ingredients is TriOxygenc which helps infuse oxygen into your skin. This diabetic skin care cream is proven to speed healing and increase circulation by strengthening natural defenses of the skin. It provides instant soothing action by quickly restoring your skin to a healthier, smooth soft texture.

Apply as often as necessary or as directed by the healthcare expert or physician. Daily use is recommended to help maintain the skin’s soft, healthy appearance.

Gold Bond Ultimate Hydrating Lotion – Diabetic Skin Care Lotions

With diabetes, your skin can become rough, cracked and uncomfortable. Gold bond ultimate hydrating lotion is specifically formulated for dry skin with hydralast and seven intensive moisturizers to hydrate and soothe the skin while adding a strong protective layer of moisture for up to 24 hours. Gold bond ultimate hydrating lotion is ideal for daily use and does not contain any harsh alpha hydroxyl acids that irritate the skin.

Eucerin Diabetics’ Skin Relief Body Lotion

Eucerin diabetics’ dry skin relief lotion is specifically designed to leave the skin feeling comfortable, hydrated and healthier all day long. This unique, non-greasy formula is enriched with alpha hydroxyl which repairs and exfoliates dry, flaky skin. Besides smoothening dry, rough skin, Eucerin diabetics’ skin relief body lotion noticeably improves overall skin condition and appearance just after one use! It is designed to repair, enhance and protect your skin, giving you the confidence that comes from healthy-looking and radiant skin.

Benefits

The alpha hydroxyl formula smoothens rough, dry skin after just one use

Fast absorbing and lightweight

Fragrance free

Clinically proven formulation that provides 24-hour moisture

Paraben free

Dermatologist recommended brand

How to use

Apply liberally over rough, dry skin every day or as recommended by the physician. Apply immediately after showering or bathing for best results.

DiabetAid Pain and Tingling Relief Lotion

Diabetes can cause two main problems that hurt your legs and feet. One complication is damage to the nerves which leads to an infection or a sore. The other problem is blood flow which can make it hard for an infection or sore to heal. However, if you check for sores or cut sand wash your feet and hands with mild soap, chances of infections are greatly reduced. Sometimes you may also feel a tingling sensation in your hands and feet. Applying DiabetAid pain and Tingling Relief Lotion will relieve those uncomfortable sensations.

Benefits

Soothing relief for uncomfortable tingling in the feet and hands

Contains 4 essential moisturizers to relieve dry, rough skin

Does not contain any ingredients that are considered harmful or dangerous to diabetics.

How to use

Apply to affected areas daily but you should avoid applying more than 4 times per day. Children under 2 years should consult a doctor for directions and recommendations.

What is Diabetic Nerve Pain?

One of the most common complications of diabetes is damage to the autonomic or peripheral nerves, commonly known as neuropathy. Besides causing losses in motor and sensory function, diabetic neuropathy can also lead to foot ulcers and debilitating pain which may lead to amputation. Although conventional treatment of neuropathy is limited to good nail and foot hygiene, early detection of ulcers and the use of strong pain killers such as opioids and antipileptics, studies have found that some nutritional supplements are capable of reversing diabetic neuropathy.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine – A Neuropathy Supplement

Acetyl-L-Carnitine is a nutritional supplement that can bring relief to diabetic neuropathy sufferers. Studies show that patients who are treated with Acetyl-L-Carnitine show significant improvement in NCV (nerve conduction velocity), pain and amplitude.

The greatest improvements in nerve conduction velocity are usually seen in the motor peroneal nerve, the sensory ulnar nerve and in the sensory sural nerve. On the other hand, the greatest change in amplitude was in the mortal peroneal nerve. Besides improving nerve function, acetyl-l-carnitine also stimulates nerve fiber regeneration. Take 500 mg to 1000 mg per day.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

This extraordinary antioxidant has been shown to improve numbness, burning, diabetic pain and other symptoms of neuropathy. Antioxidants have proven to be very important particularly because diabetes unleashes free-radical damage in the body which leads to nerve and vascular damage that underline various diabetic complications. Take 600 mg to 1200 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid per day.

Biotin for Diabetic Nerve Pain Relief

High doses of biotin may improve the symptoms and complications of diabetic neuropathy within 5 to 8 weeks. This is attributable to enzyme pyruvate carboxylase which is biotin-dependent and it helps prevent the depletion of aspartate and the accumulation of pyruvate. Both play very important roles in nervous system function.

Exercise and Physical Therapy Treatment for Diabetic Neuropathy

One of the best ways to manage diabetes symptoms is exercise because it helps patients maintain healthy weight, control high blood pressure and blood sugar symptoms, improve range of motion, and increase strength in addition to other numerous benefits of regular exercise.

The Journal of Diabetes Complications published a study in 2012 that found that exercise increased intra-epidermal nerve fiber branching and also caused significant reduction in pain and other diabetic neuropathic symptoms. You can work your way up gradually to exercising for about 30 to 60 minutes per day, doing different low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming and cycling. This will lower blood glucose and help your body respond to exercise better. On the other hand, exercise helps protect nerves by lowering stress, reducing cholesterol and improving circulation which can increase inflammation by raising your glucose levels.

Physical therapy is also very important in the treatment for diabetic neuropathy – because it improves daily functioning by increasing mobility and muscle strength. You can talk to your doctor or physical therapist about any pain you might be experiencing so they can recommend special orthopedic shoes and inserts, which will improve your ability to get around by reducing the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy.

Capsaicin Cream

Capsaicin cream blocks pain signals by using ingredients found in hot pepper. However, you should keep in mind that capsaicin products can cause skin irritation in some patients. Capsaicin cream is also available as a patch, jelly or lotion and you can simply apply the cream to areas where diabetic pain is strong in order to relieve pain.

You should talk to your physician before using any treatments based on capsaicin because some capsaicin products can cause dangerous side effects on sensitive or irritated skin and opens sores. The skin might also be more sensitive to different sources of heat including the sun. Therefore, it’s extremely important to avoid excessive exposure to heat or sunlight when using capsaicin lotions and creams.

Lower Diabetic Nerve Pain Naturally

In case you have already developed diabetic neuropathy and are looking for effective ways to improve daily function and lower pain, you’ll be very glad to learn that various natural ingredients can help. Several anti-oxidants and antioxidants lower pain and stop nerve damage from progression. These natural remedies include:

Vitamin B12: Most diabetes patients seem to be low in this vital nutrient, which worsens nerve damage.

These natural treatments for diabetic neuropathy have proven to be highly effective and reliable. However, it can take sometimes for diabetes neuropathy to see improvements. Therefore, it’s extremely essential to be patient and try various different combinations until you find true relief.

The routine activity of pricking fingers to monitor blood glucose levels is quite hectic for most people with diabetes. Despite this dreadful daily process, the management and control of diabetes is very important. Fortunately, new glucose meters that don’t require blood, for checking blood glucose levels are being developed by numerous companies around the globe, as we speak – welcome relief for many, many diabetes sufferers.

FreeStyle Libre

FreeStyle Libre by Abbott is an entirely new glucose monitoring concept that provides much greater data than CGM (continuous glucose monitors). The readings are provided by simply scanning a sensor instead of pricking your finger.

Main advantages of FreeStyle Libre

Lightweight and compact to carry around

It provides a graph of how glucose levels are varying just like a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor)

Users can see how much results are trending downwards or upwards by simply scanning the sensor.

The FreeStyle Libre sensor is waterproof for 30 minutes in up to 1 meter.

More affordable than continuous glucose monitors.

The backlit color touch screen can be read in the dark

One of the main benefits of FreeStyle Libre is that it stores up to 90 days of data and you can easily analyze your glucose trend over three months.

GlucoWise

GlucoWise allows the concentration of blood sugar to be measured at the blood capillary level. Blood glucose levels are measured by a non-invasive technique by transmitting low-power radio waves (65 GHz) sections of the body such as the earlobe or between the forefinger and thumb. Besides having adequate blood supply, the tissue in these areas is thin enough for the radio waves to pass through.

The radio signals are received by a receiver that collects and analyzes data about the characteristics of your blood. User data is digitally encrypted and transmitted via Bluetooth 4.0 to ensure that user data is never shared with third parties. Data can also be uploaded to secure online database or transmitted to computers using a USB port. Although GlucoWise is still in development, it is expected to be available in late 2016.

Dexcom G5 CGM mobile system

Dexcom G5 is a CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) system that is approved for both adults and children two years and older. Dexcom G5 mobile uses Bluetooth technology that is built into a transmitter that allows for remote viewing of blood glucose levels and trends from compatible smart devices. Users can monitor glucose data by using a Dexcom mobile receiver or the Dexcom G5 mobile app.

Benefits of the Dexcom G5 mobile system

The transmitter is secured on top of the sensor in order to send in order to send data to your receiver or compatible smart device.

Either the Dexcom receiver or a compatible mobile device will display glucose trends in a colorful display so you can easily see when it’s within range, high or low.

With Dexcom G5, users will be alerted directly on their smart devices when they’re heading too high or too low. Moreover, alerts can be customized to appear as text messages for additional privacy and discretion.

Fantastic news, for the diabetes industry, and for everyone patiently waiting in the Diabetes Community too!

FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System is a revolutionary glucose monitoring concept that provides greater data and convenience than blood glucose testing. Moreover, it is more affordable than CGM (Continous Glucose Monitors). Abbot FreeStyle Libre is a bloodless glucose meter that provides instant glucose readings by simply scanning a sensor instead of pricking your finger! This is great news for the Diabetes Community patiently waiting for these developments.

Non Invasive Glucose Meter: How does it work?

Freestyle Libre features a tiny, flexible glucose sensor (0.2mm long) that is worn just under the skin and attached to a round, water resistant on-body patch. The sensor is the size of a one-dollar coin and it remains in place for 14 days. Additionally it’s factory calibrated and it will begin reading glucose and relaying data one hour after putting it on the upper arm. The device is approved for use except in three cases where the normal finger-stick is recommended; when glucose changes rapidly, when hypoglycemic and when your symptoms don’t match the readings provided by the system.

Most people who participated in patient trials of the devices rated the application of the fiber sensor as painless or less painless compared to traditional CGM (continuous glucose monitor). Moreover, the insertion process is very simple and it does not require any training. The insertion process takes about 15 seconds and it can be done even with one hand.

Using the FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System

Take the touchscreen reader and hold it near (within an inch) the round sensor disc, and wait for the reader to beep. You will get your real-time glucose value in less than a second and you can also see your glucose trend arrow and a trend graph that shows the last 8 hours of data. You can also download reports from your reader device to your MAC or any other PC compatible software.

Therefore, besides getting glucose readings as you would with the conventional blood glucose meters, you can also see whether your glucose levels have started going down, up or are unstable.

Although the upper arm might seem like an annoying and very noticeable location, the round sensor is conveniently small and light, so you’ll soon forget that you’re even wearing it. The sensor comes with strong adhesive in order to ensure that it stays intact on your skin for the entire 14-day period. Despite the activity you engage in, FreeStyle libre will not require any additional taping. However, Abbott is actively pursuing approval for various alternate wear locations that are more discreet (e.g., thigh, stomach).

How do you scan the sensor disc to obtain data?

Unlike continuous glucose monitors (CGM), the device must be scanned using the reader to obtain data (real time value, trend and graph,) because it does not continuously send real time data to the touchscreen reader. The sensor stores 8 hours of data at a time with the values being taken every minute.

The FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System has an outstanding scanning process that takes an average of two seconds. You simply need to touch the button on the screen reader to turn it on and bring up the sensor menu.

From there, hold the reader an inch from the sensor to obtain the real time glucose value, trend and past 8 hours of glucose data. The data is displayed on a clear and simple line graph.

Scanning takes 1 to 2 seconds and works through several layers regular clothing. This allows for excellent flexibility and discretion. On the other hand, you can tags to scans such as exercise, insulin carbs and customizable options right from the home screen.

Scanning the sensor patch is associated with a certain cool factor, psychological pleasure and fun quality. Additionally, the scans are accompanied by an inspiring ‘ding’ sound that is followed by the immediate display of data on your reader. This will help you beat and forget the hassles associated with traditional blood glucose tests. This is largely because there is no cost associated with additional glucose scans and there is no limit to the number of scans you can take.

When will the Freestyle Libre be available in the US?

FreeStyle Libre Flash (real time) Glucose Monitoring System version is currently available in most European countries and in Australia where it was approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) early this year (February 2016). However, it’s not clear when FreeStyle libre will launch in the United States. Since Abbot has not yet submitted the device to the FDA, it likely won’t be available until 2017 or even later. However, the FreeStyle Libre pro is hoping to get approval from the FDA anytime now – since it has been under review by the FDA since 2015.

Bookmark this site, to return for regular updates on the Bloodless Glucose Meter.

Abbot’s FreeStyle Libre Pro System Receives FDA Approval For Medical Practitioners To Use With Diabetes Patients.

On 28th September 2016, Abbot announced that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) had approved the FreeStyle Libre Pro System, a bloodless glucose monitor for use by healthcare professionals on diabetes patients.

The system is designed to empower physicians to provide better management of diabetes. The system provides physicians with a clear visual snapshot of blood glucose data, commonly known as AGP (Ambulatory Glucose Profile). Besides giving a more clear and simplified view of the blood glucose levels, healthcare providers can also see and analyze trends and patterns within those glucose levels. This information has proven to be very valuable because it helps doctors make customized treatment plans for diabetes patients and at a lower cost compared to other continuous glucose monitoring products available in the market today.

FreeStyle Libre Pro makes a massive transformation in the way healthcare providers assess diabetes patients especially when it comes to critical decisions around nutrition, medication and insulin. This innovative technology provides a viable solution to the challenges that come with the need for dependable and complete blood glucose data. This data is vital for the doctor to help the patient achieve optimal health.

How does the FreeStyle Libre Pro System Work?

The FreeStyle Libre Pro system is applied to diabetes patients by healthcare practitioners in a hospital or clinic setting. The doctor applies a very small sensor on the back of the diabetes patient’s upper arm. The round water resistant sensor is held firmly in place with an adhesive pad and remains on the patient’s arm for 14 days. During this period, the device does not require any patient interaction or the need for patients to calibrate the sensor or draw blood via a fingerstick.

The sensor measures glucose continuously in interstitial fluid via a very small filament that is usually inserted just under the patient’s skin. This enables the sensor to record glucose in 15 minutes intervals capturing about 1,340 blood glucose results in the 14-day period. The patient returns to the physician after 14 days where the physician will scan the sensor using a FreeStyle Libre Pro reader and download the glucose results stored in the patient’s sensor. The 14 days’ worth of blood glucose results can be scanned and downloaded in as little as 5 seconds.

Advantages of the FreeStyle Libre Pro System compared to other CGM systems

Provides reliable blood glucose data

Doctors receive 14 days’ worth of continuous blood glucose data that is based on uninterrupted day-to-day routines of diabetes patients.

Convenient for patients and doctors

Since the FreeStyle Libre Pro does not require any fingerstick calibrations, there is no need for diabetes patients to be trained on calibration. Once the sensor has been applied, there is no need for patients to interact with the system in any way.

Reduces equipment cost and time

Besides costing less than other CGM products, with the FreeStyle Libre Pro system the physician only needs to buy one specific reader for several patients without the need to spend on extra transmitters, receivers and recorders, or devoting time to disinfect or recharge other components.

Ambulatory Glucose Profile report

The system provides physicians and their patients with an AGP (Ambulatory Glucose Profile) report. The report was developed by the International Diabetes center and it is represented in a user-friendly chart that provides physicians with a complete glycemic view of the patient’s blood glucose trend for the past 14 days.

The Ambulatory Glucose Profile Report helps identify when patients are out of the ideal blood glucose range and provides hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic patterns and trends. These useful insights facilitate meaningful discussions between patients and doctors. This is groundbreaking technology primarily because professional CGM systems have been long considered an expensive and cumbersome technology particularly for Type 1 diabetes patients.

The new FreeStyle Libre Pro technology is here to change this paradigm because it’s not only unique but also because it does not require fingerstick calibration, it’s more affordable, easier to use and more accessible to diabetes patients.

Abbot has also submitted the FreeStyle Libre Pro system consumer version for review by the FDA. The consumer version of the system is a CGM system that measures blood glucose levels through a very small sensor on the back of the patient’s upper arm for 14 days. Moreover, it does not require fingerstick calibration and patients can self-monitor their blood glucose levels by simply scanning the reader over the small sensor to get a reading as often as desired.

Can Stress Cause Diabetes?

Actually having diabetes in itself, is a major source of stress. Many diabetics have much higher rates of anxiety and depression, and learning to deal with this and reducing stress in your day to day activities, is vital.

Your body is essentially a hormone factory. Whenever you are stressed – whether it’s good or bad stress – your body releases different types of hormones to help you out. For example, it will release adrenaline to give you more energy. Along with these, your liver, muscles and fat will also release glucose. If you have chronic stress you can end up with a situation where your body is releasing too much hormone, and too much glucose, too often.

Diabetes and Stress is not a good scenario. If you’re chronically under stress it can make it difficult to control your diabetes. If you are worried about things such as paying the bills, taking care of your children, passing tests, and other life situations, you could be harming your health more than you know with the added additional and frequent releases of hormones into your blood stream. Like drugs, you can actually get addicted to these hormones too.

Who Is in Control?

In Life, the Truth, and Being Free , the author Steve Maraboli states, “You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.” In many cases this is true, but in others you really do have some control over the stress in your life.

The trick is to figure out which things you have control over and which things you do not. A good way to judge is to determine who must do the change or action to make it different. If it’s not you, you have no control over it, and you must let it go. If it is you, then you have to face it and do what it takes to change.

Even if it’s something you have no control over, you do have control over your reaction to the situation. Learn to take time to assess a situation, determine who is in control, and then control what you can. If someone is being bossy or demanding, just react differently to it than you normally would. Take a deep breath, count to ten and move on. You can control your thoughts and your actions in a way that reduces your stress.

If you do have direct control over something such as your weight and what you eat, then it’s time to face the facts that only you can truly make a change here. If your poor eating habits are causing you to be unhealthy, instead of letting it add stress to your life, work on creating new habits one day at a time. Each meal or each day that you make the best choices for yourself and your health, you’ll be less stressed about that issue.

Stress and Diabetes: Steps You Can Take to Reduce Stress

* Learn coping skills – Read books about developing coping skills or, if you can, seek some professional help through a counselor or life coach.

* Meditate – This isn’t hokey, and it’s not strange; meditation and prayer are proved to keep you calmer, long after.

* Try something new – Sometimes it helps to break out of your everyday life to let go of stress. Join a local group, try a new hobby, take a class, volunteer.

* Breathe and count – During a stressful event, teach yourself to check your breathing. So many people literally hold their breath at all times of the day. Count to three (or ten if you need it) and breathe normally and mindfully.

* Relax – Take time each day to just relax, read a good book, watch a TV show or documentary and just be.

By incorporating these things into your life and being aware of who exactly is in control of your life, you will go far in reducing the stress in your life and at the same time, reducing the effects of stress on diabetes.

Can I Reverse Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is often a progressive disease that is preceded by a long period of elevated blood sugar. In fact, most people who are finally diagnosed with diabetes, medical experts believe they have been on the path for 5 to 10 years. Therefore, most of them have already lost about half of their insulin making capability.

Although it’s impossible to undo your lifestyle of the last decade, you can take some steps to stop the progression or even reverse diabetes. Recent studies show that losing weight can delay the onset of pre-diabetes or delay its progression to type 2 diabetes. The keys to prevention and management of diabetes or preventing its complications include; Healthy diet, regular exercise, and creating an environment that fosters general healthy living.

For instance, losing a few pounds earlier on when your glucose levels start rising can greatly improve your blood sugar levels, blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol levels and more. It is vital for people to get to their ideal weights especially if they have type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. Robert Hizenga, MD, an associate professor at the University of California says that people should be athletically fit and have no excess fat. A diet of healthy eating and 90 minutes of exercise 6 days a week is the best way to manage type 2 diabetes even without medications.

For most people this is easier said than done. However, with perseverance, commitment and a positive attitude, you can achieve your ideal, healthy weight. You can set small and achievable goals first and add new goals gradually as you succeed in meeting the small goals. Research studies recommend setting a small goal of losing about 5 to 7% of the weight you started with in order to improve your health, lower blood sugar, with the intention of keeping the pounds off.

What are the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes?

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes usually develop very slowly and this is the main reason why most people have may have it and not know it. Here are some of the symptoms you should look for:

Increased hunger: Since the body does not have enough insulin to move glucose into the cells, your organs and muscles will be depleted of energy thus triggering intense hunger.

Frequent urination and increased thirst: When excess sugar builds up in your bloodstream, your tissues lose excess fluid to the blood stream. This is that main reason why you tend to feel thirsty and may urinate and drink more than usual.

Weight loss: Although most people with diabetes tend to eat more than usual in order to relive intense hunger, they may also lose weight. Since the body does not have the ability to metabolize sugar, it uses the alternative energy stored in fat and muscles. You end up losing calories and excess sugar in your urine.

Blurred vision: In case your blood sugar level is too high the fluid in the lenses of your eyes may also be pulled off into the blood stream. This affects your ability to see or focus.

Fatigue: Since your cells are deprived of glucose, you become easily irritable and tired.

Some darkened areas on the skin: If you have type 2 diabetes, your may have some patches of velvety, dark skin in the creases and folds of your body. This is quite common in the neck and armpits. This condition is known as acanthosis nigricans and in most cases it’s a sign of insulin resistance.

Frequent infections and slow-healing sores: Your ability to resist infections and heal wounds may be affected.

Tingling and numbness of the feet and hands

Impotence

Are there any Forms of Natural Treatment for Diabetes Available Today?

Fig leaves

Due to its anti-diabetic properties, diabetics need less insulin when using fig leaf extract for treating diabetes. The extract should be taken first thing in the morning preferably with breakfast. Alternatively, you fig leaves can be boiled in freshly boiled water and taken as tea.

Black seed

Nigella Sativa, also known as Black seed has been used for over 2000 years to treat numerous diseases including diabetes, pancreatic cancers, acne and more. Diabetics should take 6 teaspoons of black seed oil per day for 7 days. Take black seed oil three different times. Then take 4 teaspoons per day for 4 days; 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening. Follow by taking two teaspoons per day for two days.

Fenugreek

Take 10 to 30 grams of fenugreek with each meal per day. However, you should not take fenugreek at the same time as other medications. Wait at least one hour before taking it. Do not take more than 90 grams because it might cause nausea and stomach upsets. Common side effects of fenugreek include gas and diarrhea.

Cinnamon

A study done by Khan and associates in 2003 reported cinnamon as a good natural treatment for diabetes. 60 diabetic people were tested and a third of them were given a placebo. The results were quite impressive with glucose down about 18% and the overall health of the group increased. The results also showed reduced levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. Taking about a teaspoon of cinnamon per day is critical to softening your cell membranes. Cinnamon reduces your need for insulin because it actually mimics insulin.

Grape seed extract

Grape seed exact performed quite well in studies conducted in Toyama, Japan, Portsmouth, UK and Romania in 2009. Grape seed extract is great setting up strong defensive mechanisms against the reactive oxygen that is produced by hyperglycemic conditions and protecting the liver cells. Grape seed extract comes in 50 to 100 mg capsules but, do not take more that 300 mg per day.

Olive oil

The University of Jaen has been researching between the consumption of olive oil and preventing diabetes. They found that an olive oil-rich diet can help prevent diabetes. Olive oil can help reduce your blood sugar levels including triglycerides and LDL. Reducing your cholesterol levels can help prevent various diseases including arthrosclerosis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

It’s essential to keep in mind that, prevention of diabetes actually begins with proper diet and weight management. The Mediterranean diet has proven to be very beneficial in the prevention and treatment of diabetes by using coconut oil and olive oil, which is rich in monounsaturated fats instead of saturated fats. Drink about ¼ cup of the oil. You can also mix one teaspoon of olive oil and one table spoon of lecithin especially if you prefer using lecithin.

Bitter melon

Bitter melon contains insulin-like properties which is the main reason why it works well with diabetes treatment. The insulin-like properties help in lowering glucose levels in blood and urine. Juice bitter melon and take it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. You can also grind the seeds into a powder and eat them or use the bitter melon to make tea.

Vitamin C

Studies show that using between 100mg and 600mg of vitamin C can help normalize your blood glucose levels in as little as 30 days. Diabetics have complications of too much sugar in the body which can eventually leads to nerve damage and eye problems.

How Can You Create the Right Diet for Diabetes?

The term “diabetes diet” in this context refers to the food that is eaten every day and not simply a short-term solution to lose weight or treat diabetes temporarily. You should choose a diabetes diet plan you will adhere to for the rest of your life. Therefore, fad diets that eliminate several food groups are not recommended because they are unsustainable. The best diabetes diet should be customized to your needs without focusing only on cutting calories but also making the most of the calories you consume.

A healthy diet should be rich in vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, heart –healthy oils and whole grains. It should also encourage lowering your salt intake and healthy preparation of food such as broiling, roasting, grilling meats, and baking. Another essential element of a healthy diabetes diet is limiting saturated fats. Daily calories from saturated fats should be less than 7%. Moreover, you should avoid trans-fats and limit your daily calorie intake to less than 200 milligrams.

Stick to a low-carbohydrate diet and choose lean proteins to keep you energized and full without too much fat. Some of the good sources of protein include poultry without skin and lean fish. If you prefer pork or beef, choose lean cuts, trim off the fat and avoid frying food. Stick to low-fat or non-fat dairy options for yogurt, cheese, milk and other dairy products.

What are the Recommendations for a Healthy Diabetes Diet?

Eat 3 meals per day, and be sure to include healthy snacks as needed to help regulated blood glucose.

Eat appropriate proportions

Maintain a regular meal schedule by eating at the same time each day.

Sip low calorie beverages or water throughout the day.

Eat more vegetables

What are some of the plant foods used for the Treatment of Diabetes?

There are numerous plans that can be used for diabetes treatment, especially people with type 2 diabetes. These plants include:

Buckwheat

Coffee

Cloves

Brewer’s yeast

Sage

Peas

Broccoli

Okra

Most of these foods are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber which are vital for good health in diabetics. Some new studies show that plant foods such as coffee, cloves and cinnamon may actually help insulin and aid in fighting inflammation. Cinnamon extracts improve glucose metabolism which triggers insulin release and cholesterol metabolism. On the other hand, clove leaf extracts improve insulin’s function and also lower LDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. Recent studies show that some compounds in coffee reduce the risk of developing diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity.

What does High and Low GI mean?

The GI ranks food according to the rate at which they are broken down by the body to form glucose.

High GI foods are quickly converted into glucose. Examples of foods with a glycemic index include potatoes, oranges, sweetened drinks, and white bread.

Since low GI foods are broken down more slowly, they don’t cause spies (sharp increases) in your blood sugar level compared to foods with a high glycemic index. Therefore, they are a good option for maintaining stable blood sugar levels.

Foods with a low glycemic index leave you feeling full over a longer period of time.

Can a low Glycemic Index (GI) Diet Prevent Diabetes?

A low GI diet can be effective for diabetics if they apply portion control to foods with high carbohydrate content. Foods with high glycemic index are broken down quickly causing blood sugar levels to rise very sharply. This is particularly dangerous for people with diabetes as the ability to control blood sugar levels is greatly reduced or almost non-existent.

What are the Advantages of a Low GI Diet?

Their nutritional value is higher compared to high GI food equivalents

Reduce the demand for insulin immediately after eating

Provide energy for prolonged periods and its unlikely that you’ll feel hungry before it’s time for the next meal

You can eat a varied diet

It’s easier to follow food choices with glycemic index charts

Do low GI diets have any disadvantages?

The main disadvantage of a low GI diet for diabetics comes if the carbohydrate content of a meal is too high for the body to cope with. For instance, bran-based cereal is typically low GI but it contains a high carbohydrate value.

The carbohydrate content of a large portion of bran-based cereal could be too high for people with diabetes which may cause their blood sugar levels to rise very high.

However, this should not be a problem if people with diabetes apply if portion control to foods that have a high carbohydrate content.

What low GI foods are suitable for people with diabetes?

Whole grains

Unsweetened dairy products

Lean meats

Non-starchy vegetables

Legumes

Care must be taken with vegetables and fruits because their GI value can vary significantly.

What is the Atkins diet?

The Atkins Diet is a low carbohydrate diet plan that was created by Robert C. Atkins in 1972. The diet emphasizes fats and protein while restricting carbohydrates. It has several phases for losing weight starting with a low carbohydrate diet.

Can the Atkins diet help control diabetes?

The Atkins Diet limits carbohydrates in order to change the metabolism of the body from metabolizing glucose for energy to convert fat for energy. According to Dr. Atkins, the main reason why most low-fat diets fail is because dieters feel hungry and that the Atkins diet is much easier because dieters generally feel satisfied when they eat adequate fiber, protein and fat. Since the Atkins Diet emphasizes avoiding carbohydrates, it can certainly help diabetes.

Is alcohol bad for diabetics?

Beyond all the safety and health concerns about alcohol, people with diabetes need to be very cautious. The action of some diabetes medication and insulin is to lower blood sugar. Therefore, diabetics should not drink on an empty stomach or when their blood glucose is low.

Keep in mind that there is a risk of developing hypoglycemia up to 24 hours after drinking. Therefore, if you have diabetes and want to drink alcohol, you should always check your blood sugar level before drinking and eat before drinking or whole you drink. Moreover, you should check your blood sugar level before retiring to bed and make sure its within the safe level (100 to 140 mg/dl).

The symptoms of hyperglycemia and too much alcohol can be very similar; dizziness, disorientation and sleepiness. Always wear a diabetes ID if you are hypoglycemic to ensure that nobody will confuse hypoglycemia for too much alcohol. This will ensure that you get proper assistance and treatment.